Roberta "Bobbi" Koskela

Roberta Koskela was born February 19, 1936, to Edward and Roberta (Veeder) Guishard in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. After graduating from high school, she met Kenneth Koskela while he was on leave from the United States Air Force. They were married March 31, 1956. The couple lived for a time at Wolf Lake, Minnesota, and later in California before returning to Minnesota and settling in the north metro area.

In 1969, Kenny and Bobbi bought their farm near Sunrise, Minnesota, and moved there with their sons, Gary and Jeffrey. Bobbi assisted with the farm chores and was in charge of washing the milking equipment. For many years she also worked at North Branch Elementary School, starting as a teacher’s aide in the second grade and later as a library assistant.

Kenny and Bobbi were members of Sunrise Bible Church, where Bobbi was active as a Bible school teacher, nursery worker, kitchen helper, providing transportation for children and in many other capacities. The couple also attended Faith Baptist Church in Stacy. They sold their farm about fifteen years ago and moved to rural Pine City, where they made many new friends, attended South Pine Baptist Church and where Bobbi worked as a substitute teacher’s aide.

After retiring from farming, the Koskela's enjoyed many road trips near and far, covering much of northern Minnesota and several trips to Arizona, Montana and Alaska. The highlight of Bobbi’s travels was probably the day she reeled in (with help from her son Gary) a 70-pound king salmon off the coast of Alaska. Throughout their retirement years the couple enjoyed many Saturday night Gospel music concerts at First Presbyterian Church in Hinckley. Bobbi’s love of Gospel music and the word of God brought her much comfort and encouragement in later years when her mobility declined.

After Kenny’s death a year ago, Bobbi moved to Bickford Assisted Living in North Branch, where she endeared herself to the staff and fellow residents. She passed away there on April 14, 2018, with her son Gary by her side. She was 82 years old.

Bobbi is survived by her sons Gary (Terri) Koskela of Palmer, Alaska, and Jeffrey (Wade) Koskela of North Charlotte, South Carolina; three grandchildren: Heather Koskela, Jennifer Koskela and Jonathan Koskela all of Anchorage, Alaska; one great-grandson, Michael Koskela of Anchorage, Alaska; brother Edward Guishard of Arizona; sisters Marilyn (Baret) Bellerud of Apache Junction, Arizona and Virginia (Lloyd) Mady of Hutchinson; many nieces and nephews. She is also missed by a large family of brothers and sisters in Christ from the Sunrise and Pine City areas.